Alarm device



0ct.15,1935. v E G 'DE VALERA 2,017,687

ALARM DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1934 INVENTOR Ernep'i fifl Valaz'a Jul ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALARM DEVICE I Ernest G. De Valera, New York, N. Y'. Application October 15, 1934, Serial No. 748,318

5 Claims. (01. 177-7) This invention relates to. alarm device, in general; and particularly to the audible variety.

The primeobject. oi this invention is to provide a very simple device of this kind, consisting of the minimum amount of parts, in a minimum amount: of' space,rand:which will at the same time be effective and economical in operation, and simple and inexpensive in itsv manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide 10, with: the armature of such device a sound prowhich the movable part is equipped with a sound producing: element.

Another object of this invention is to, provide for the operating parts of such alarm device, a 25 suitable base or support and a cover, whereby the device may be securedeither' interiorly or ex-- terior-ly to a givensupporting surface.

The foregoing and a: great number ofother objects. and advantages of this: invention, will 30 become more thoroughly apparent from the following description, and the accompanying drawing, the latter, whileforming: part of my invention, are not to limit meto. the actual construction illustrated.

35: In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical crosssectional view through one form of my device, shown enlarged, asit issecured within a wall box of standard construction.

, Figure 2 illustrates asimilar device, partially 40-= in cross-sectiomas attached to. the exterior of. a

wall.

Figure 3-isa plan viewof a modified form of my device, employing an electromagnet.

Figure 4 is a modified form of the construction 5 shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is still another modification of my device.

Referring now specifically to Figures 1 and 2;, numeral ill denotes a solenoid, provided. with a 59 through-passage, which latter is divided into one portion having a larger cross-section,as indicated at H, and another portion. [2 having'a similar cross-section. Solenoid I is secured to a base.

plate: l 3, which is preferably perforated or'slotted,

5 as indicated at It.

Within the solenoid, there is suspended an armature or core l5, provided with an enlargement, abutment or stop member 16 at its inner end, and a sound producing element 11, fastened 60 to its other, outer end, and adapted to be reciprocated in the direction of the center axis of the armature. This sound producing element is shown in the shape of a shell or closed bell, within which is placed one or more pellets l8.

Enclosing, the entiredevice, that is, the solenoid 5,

and the armature, with the soundproducing element; thereon, is a cover member l9, which is preferably sprung in and held between two, stamped-out lugs 20; provided in the base plate I 3. The: cover member I9 is also preferably equipped with-perforations 2 I, intended to permit the sound produced by the sound producing element lto travel outwards.

Core I5 is normally suspended, in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 by enlargement, 115

which latter serves aslimiting means, in one direction, for the operation of the armature. When solenoid I0 is energized, the armature is drawn into the solenoid and when the electric impulse stops, the own weight of the armature causes thelatter to descend to its normal, down position. Through the up and down movement: of the armature, pellet. I8 is caused to violently move within shell l1, thereby producinga very'audible sound. The deviceshown in Figure 1 is intended to be placed within a standard wall box 22-; indicated in broken lines, .while its base is preferably covered with a facing. plate 23, provided with suitable perforations 241 The same device may be secured to the surface ofthe-Wall,.as indicated in Figure 2. Thus, the apparatus is capable of being either exteriorlyor interiorly mounted wherever desired. In both figures, the operationof the armature depends uponv the gravity action of the armature. structure, including the sound producing element, and upon the function of a periodically. energized solenoid.

' Re rrin t Fi ure 4; is m d ficati n is. so tospeak, a reversal of' the device described 40 above; in that the armature or core is, brought to itsnormal position by the action of a spring, In this figure; numeral t0 denotes a solenoid, provided with athrough-passage, consisting of a portion of larger cross-section. l V, and, a; portion of smaller cross-section I2, in which the armature operates; At the bottom of; the solenoid, there is provided an; adjustable screw 25, having a spring seat 26, against Whichrests a spring 21' bearing against the enlargement 28 of core 29.

At the upper and outer end of the armature, there is secured ashell 3min which a pellet, is inserted (not shown).

The normal position of the armature iscillust'rated inFigure 4, the armaturebei-ng. supported 55. by spring 2d? in; its upward; position. When the solenoid I0 is energized, the armature is drawn downwards. Through the up and down movement of the armature, the shell is caused to emit a sound. This modified form is also extremely simple in construction, except that it requires more than 2 parts, as compared with the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Both constructions, however, are intended to be mounted vertically, although the modified form in Figure 4 will operate in any other position.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is illustrated a relatively large solenoid 3|, provided with a central enlarged passage 32, and smaller end passages 33. Within the latter passages are operatively mounted armatures or cores 34, provided with inner end-enlargements 35, against which bears a spring member 36. At the outer ends of armatures 34 are secured sound producing elements in the form of shells 35.

Spring 33 tends to keep the cores in their outward position, shown in Figure 5. Electric impulses interruptedly energized solenoid 3! causes armatures 34 to be drawn in. Through the combined functions of the spring and of the solenoid, armatures 34 are caused to reciprocate, whereby the shells are caused to vibrate, moving in axial directions with the armature, and to produce a very audible sound. This construction is capable of being mounted in any desired position.

In Figure 3 is illustrated a still other modification of my device, in which, instead of an armature floating within a solenoid, an electromagnet is employed with an exterior armature, to which latter a sound producing element is fixedly attached. In this figure, numeral 36 denotes a base plate, to which is secured an electromagnet 31. At the free endpf armature 38, there is secured a shell 39, in which is housed a pellet 4D. The operation of this device is rather obvious, inasmuch as it resembles the present day buzzer or bell, with the exception that the armature is not employed for producing a sound by striking a sound producing element, but itself carries such element at its vibrating end.

From the foregoing, it becomes quite evident that my invention is capable of considerable changes and adoptions, and covers a wide field of employment, its principal purpose being to simplify the construction of an audible alarm to the most essential parts, whereby the cost of production is reduced to a minimum.

While I have shown specific constructions of my device in various modifications, employing single shells and pellets, it is quite obvious that other sound producing elements may be substituted either singly, or in groups. Therefore, the specific drawing is not intended to limit my invention to just the structure shown, and I reserve for myself the right to make changes and improvements, as they may become necessary in the course of manufacture, and in the employment of my device to various uses, without departing from the broad scope of my invention, as set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In an alarm device, a solenoid, a solenoid support for facilitating the mounting of the solenoid, in a substantially vertical position, said solenoid provided with a central through-passage divided in upper and lower portions, the upper portion having a larger cross-section than the lower portion, a core operatively mounted in said through-passage and guided in said lower portion thereof, a stop member for limiting the downward movement of the core, provided at the upper or inner end of said core and adapted to operate within said upper passage portion, a sound producing element attached to the lower or outer end of said core, the combined weight of said core and of said sound producing element adapted to cause said core to assume its downwardmost position, suspended by said stop member, when said solenoid is de-energized, said core and the sound producing element adapted to be drawn upwards in the direction-of the longitudinal center axis of the core, when said solenoid is energized.

2. In an alarm device, a solenoid, a solenoid support for facilitating the mounting of the latter, said solenoid provided with a through-passage consisting of a portion having a smaller cross-section, and a portion having a larger cross-section, a core operatively mounted and guided in said smaller portion, an enlargement or abutment, serving as limiting stop for the movement of the core in one direction, provided at the inner end of the core and adapted to operate within said larger passage portion, a sound producing element fixedly secured to the outer end of the core, a resilient member within the larger passage portion, bearing against said abutment so as to keep said core and its sound producing element in its normal outward position, when said solenoid is not energized, said core and its sound producing element adapted to be drawn inwards in the direction of the vertical center axis of said core, when said solenoid becomes energized.

3. In an alarm device, a solenoid provided with a through-passage having reduced guide passages at both of its ends, cores operatively mounted in said guide passages and provided at their inner ends with enlargements or abutments, serving as stops for the movements of the cores in outward directions, said abutments adapted to operate within the unreduced passage portion, an expansion spring interposed between the abutments of said cores, sound producing elements secured to the outer ends of the cores and adapted to operate in the direction of the longitudinal center axis of the cores when said solenoid becomes energized.

4. In an alarm device, a solenoid, a core reoipro- 45 catingly mounted therein, said core having a body of uniform cross-section, an enlargement provided at one end of the core, a sound producing element secured to the other end of the core, said solenoid having a through-passage divided into 50 portions of different cross-sections, one portion adapted to accommodate the core body, another portion adapted to accommodate the enlargement, said enlargement serving as stop for the core in one direction of its movement, and means for bias- 55 ing the core to its stopped position.

5. In an alarm device,-a solenoid, a mounting therefore having means for suspending said solenoid substantially in vertical position, a core reciprocatingly mounted in said solenoid, said core 60 having a body portion of uniform cross-section and an enlarged stop portion at one of its ends, said solenoid having a through-passage divided into portions having cross-sections substantially corresponding, respectively, to the shapes of the 5 the core to its stopped position. 7o

ERNEST is. DE VALERA, 

